S. Regions

In a major push to boost economic growth and innovation in communities across America, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced over $530 million in investment through the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program. The program aims to establish 10 emerging U.S. regions as innovation ecosystems, with each receiving $15 million in federal investment.

The 10 NSF Regional Innovation Engines will be awarded a total of $150 million in federal funding, which will be matched by over $365 million in contributions from non-federal partners. This initial investment is expected to pave the way for future funding of up to $2 billion over the next decade.

These innovation engines will focus on various sectors, including semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy, sustainable textiles, climate-resilient agriculture, regenerative medicine, and more. They are part of President Biden's vision to drive economic growth from the middle out and bottom up, as outlined in his Bidenomics agenda.

First Lady Jill Biden, along with Sethuraman Panchanathan, the Director of NSF, visited Forsyth Technical Community College in North Carolina to announce two NSF Regional Innovation Engine awardees. These specific engines will be dedicated to driving innovation in textile manufacturing and regenerative medicine.

By capitalizing on the scientific and technological strengths of their respective regions, these NSF Regional Innovation Engines aim to create new industries, workforces, and economic opportunities. The program brings together various stakeholders, including private industry, venture capital firms, state and local governments, higher education institutions, labor unions, tribal communities, and nonprofit organizations.

The selected Regional Innovation Engines represent 10 U.S. regions with diverse goals. The Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine will focus on enhancing semiconductor advanced packaging, while the Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine will develop sustainable water recovery systems for manufacturing industries. The Louisiana Energy Transition Engine aims to advance clean energy technologies, including utilizing carbon dioxide and hydrogen as feedstock.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Sustainable Textiles Innovation Engine plans to revolutionize the textile industry, and the North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine will transform food systems through advanced crop data and sensor technologies. Other initiatives include the Paso del Norte Defense and Aerospace Innovation Engine, the Colorado-Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine, the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, and the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine.

Furthermore, the NSF will invite 15 additional teams to pursue NSF Regional Innovation Engine Development Awards, supporting communities to grow their economies through research and partnerships. This initiative builds on the Biden Administration's commitment to ensure that no community is left behind, particularly historically underserved communities.

To support the success of these NSF Regional Innovation Engines, the Biden Administration is implementing an all-of-government strategy. Partnerships with agencies such as the U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and others will provide funding, technical assistance, and planning support.

This massive investment in regional science and technology innovation capacity echoes the Morrill Land-Grant Acts that established the modern university system over a century ago. It signifies the Administration's commitment to ensuring that American communities have the tools and resources needed to compete globally and drive innovation.

With this historic investment, President Biden aims to position the United States as a leader in key sectors of the future, such as clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, and biomanufacturing. The collaboration between public and private sectors, academia, and government agencies will drive job creation, economic growth, and strengthen both national and economic security.